Page 63 of Valley of Dreams

“We haven’t designed the building yet,” she said. “What if a wing of it were an infirmary with an attached home for you? It’d be a boon to Hope Springs to not have to always be searching for you. And stage travelers would likely have need of your services now and then.”

He paused his gentle wrapping of her hand, clearly thinking over the idea. “And I could easily take the stage to other towns if I was needed somewhere.”

She nodded. “And you could design the infirmary and your home in whatever way makes sense to you.”

He turned her hand over and adjusted the strips of linen before resuming his expert and careful wrapping. “I wouldn’t make the infirmary wing extravagant—that’s not necessary—but it would be something functional and easy to utilize.” He looked up from her hand and met her eye. “Do you have the funds to add something like this to your project?”

“I’m not entirely certain how it would change things, having only just thought of it. But I’d guess Patrick knows how to make adjustments and likely how to make them with an eye to the cost. And, if you had anything you might be able to contribute to the building of it . . .” She watched him as the suggestion hung in the air.

“I have a little, but it isverylittle.” He tied off her bandaging.

She couldn’t hold back her smile of excitement and relief. “I think it might work. I’ll speak with Patrick and Joseph again. If you’ll let Joseph know what money you could toss into the pot, then he can determine what that means for the project.”

“I will.” He handed her a little vial of ointment. “Keep your hand as clean as possible. Replace the bandaging with clean linen strips regularly and use this ointment to soothe the burn.”

“Thank you,” she said, taking the vial.

He rose and offered a dip of his head. “Thankyou, Eliza. Thank you.”

Chapter Fifteen

Patrick could builda house quickly when he had nothing else he needed to do and no one clamoring for his company. The outer walls of Finbarr’s house were all but done. Another day or two of work, and he’d have the exterior finished. The roof was another question all together. He couldn’t manage that part on his own. Maybe Finbarr could make a petition to the family to spend a day getting it up. They’d do it for Finbarr; he knew they would.

Once the roof was up, he could start on the inside: putting up walls to separate the bedroom from the main room, installing shelves for a kitchen space. Glass for the windows was due to arrive in another week. Finbarr would have a house soon enough. Whether he was ready to live on his own, Patrick didn’t know.

He sat on his usual blanket, a few yards from the house, taking his time with his lunch, and looking over his handiwork. It’d been a good thing to have something to keep him busy the past weeks in Hope Springs. He’d put in long hours, using up every ounce of sunlight. Once this project was complete, if Eliza’s inn didn’t come to be, he wasn’t sure what he’d do with himself.

“Heya, Patrick.” Finbarr’s voice caught him so off guard, he nearly jumped.

He hopped to his feet and spun around to face him. “How’d you know I was here?”

“I guessed.” Finbarr stood with his cane tip on the ground in front of him. His hat sat tilted forward on his head. “I’m not needed at the Archers’, so I thought I’d come ask if there was anything I could do here.”

Poor lad sounded as doubtful as he had when Patrick told him he’d be helping with Ian and Biddy’s roof repair. “There’s work and plenty. I’ll accept any help you offer.”

Finbarr faced the house. “I can’t— I can’t tell how much of it is done.”

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